Estate Tax Planning

After completing this course, you will be able to:

Chapter 1

• Explain the differences between the probate estate and the federal gross estate;
• Identify the components of a decedent’s probate estate;
• Describe the assets that comprise a decedent’s federal gross estate; and
• Explain the duties of an executor or administrator of a decedent’s estate.

Chapter 2

• Identify the principal estate tax provisions of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (2010 Tax Act) and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (2012 Tax Act);
• Describe how the current annual gift tax exclusion permits the tax-free transfer of property ownership;
• List the deductions allowed in calculating the federal estate tax liability;
• Define the estate tax unified credit and its exemption equivalent; and
• Explain how the portability provision operates to reduce federal estate tax liability.

Chapter 3

• Describe how a credit shelter trust works to reduce federal estate tax liability in suitable estates;
• List the client estate planning objectives met through a qualified terminable interest (QTIP) trust; and
• Explain how an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) facilitates the use of life insurance to pay estate tax and settlement costs without increasing the federal gross estate.

Chapter 4

• Identify the components of the federal gross estate;
• List the deductions that may be taken from the federal gross estateto arrive at the tentative taxable estate;
• Explain how state estate taxes are accounted for in calculating the federal estate tax liability;
• Calculate the value of adjusted taxable gifts that must be added to a decedent’s taxable estate;
• Describe the use of the estate tax unified credit, the credit on prior transfers and the foreign death tax credit in determining federal estate tax liability; and
• Calculate the federal estate tax liability under various estate tax fact patterns.

Chapter 5

• Describe the principal differences between state estate taxes and inheritance taxes;
• Identify the factors that affect the amount of state inheritance tax liability; and
• Explain how the familial relationship of a beneficiary to a decedent determines the applicable inheritance tax class.

Chapter 6

• Describe the four methods generally available for payment of estate settlement costs;
• Identify the factors that need to be considered when evaluating the relative effectiveness of the various methods of paying estate settlement costs;
• Determine the parties that should normally own life insurance when designed to be used solely to pay estate settlement costs; and
• Explain how life insurance death benefit proceeds payable to an irrevocable life insurance trust are used by a decedent’s estate to pay estate taxes and settlement costs.